Designed for an expat returning home after many years in the UK. The brief called for primary living and guest spaces as well as a more private master suite for the owner to retreat to encompassing master bedroom, ensuite, robes, sitting/reading and office spaces as well as ample floor space for yoga.
Situated in the heart of the seaside village of Ngunguru on Whangarei’s Tutukaka Coast. The house is setback from the waterfront and is surrounded on all sides by neighbouring houses. A large mature Pohutukawa tree forms a beautiful feature of the site.
The house is conceived as two simple gable forms linked by a glazed entry. The two forms frame a private entry court. At ground level the house consists of the main living wing opening to north and east facing decks with guest quarters behind. A garage wing contains the wet areas. Above the living wing at first floor level is the private master suite with pocket sea views to the east and more rural views to the north and west, as well as access to a north facing balcony. The first floor utilises scissor trusses and dormers to create a ‘loft’ type space familiar to the owner from time spent in the UK.
Painted timber weatherboards in a bevel-back profile provide a timeless cladding solution with strong shadow lines. Traditional details such as window facings, boxed corners and boxed gables are reinterpreted to suit modern cavity construction whilst referencing traditional NZ timber bungalows and villas.
“Having embarked on the search for the right architect, meeting Jeff was like a breath of fresh air. We stood on the site where I planned to build and he asked me all about how I saw myself living in the space. In his quiet, thoughtful way he was clocking exactly what I envisaged for my future lifestyle and the functionality of the build started to be moulded to fit my needs. I had a basic floor plan in mind and a lot of very exacting ideas. Jeff respected everything that I threw at him, considered all the ramifications and financial implications and over the months to come, with me back in England and Jeff in Whangarei, he maintained the most thorough of dialogues, updating me regularly and always alerting me to anything I might not have considered. Jeff is the consummate professional. He has immense creative flair and is keen to fuse architectural genres. In addition, he is a thoroughly decent man who has a genuine interest in doing the best for his clients. I could not recommend Jeff more highly.”
KAY BUDD-FLETCHER